2005 Donruss Studio - Portraits - Zenith White

Year: 2005

Manufacturer: Donruss

Set: Studio

Card Number: SP-91

Card Type: Insert Parallel

Insert Set: Portraits

Parallel: Zenith White

Card Attributes: Serial Numbered

Serial Number: 43/70

COMC Black Friday Haul #47

I posted about 2005 a lot over the years.  Mainly because Robin has a lot of cards from 2005.  As a matter of fact the most cards every produced for Robin were in 2005 with what I estimated to be right around 1000.  You can see the Yount-o-graph I did year's ago here.  I should update that.

Anyways one of the main reasons Robin has so many cards from 2005 was the fact that a lot of the insert sets he was included in had a gazillion parallels.  Case in point is 2005 Donruss Studios Portraits insert, it has over 50 different parallels.  All serial numbered, all barely different.  A lot has to do the with advertising on the back but also the border color, the photo color and the serial numbering.  But with so many to chase when one pops up on COMC and for a decent price I usually will pick it up.  

The Portraits set was a nod to the cabinet cards from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Although I'm at a loss if it was directly modeled after one particular set.  Maybe someone out there knows?

Anyways it's a great card from the last set of Donruss Studio that was issued before Donruss-Playoff lost their MLB license.

2005 Upper Deck Portraits

Year: 2005

Manufacturer: Upper Deck

Set: UD Portraits, or just Portraits

Card Number: 51

Card Type: Base

Just a base card today.  The configuration of the UD Portraits set is pretty simple.  You have the base set, jersey and jersey autograph parallels, one insert set which has a relic parallel and then autographed box toppers.  Robin is featured in the base set along with Ben Sheets and Prince Fielder as the only other Brewers in the base set, Prince Fielder also has a card in the Scrapbook Moments inserts set.  Robin also has two relic parallels based off of the base card.  The relic window is where the team logo is on the base card.  Ben Sheets has an autograph in the 8x10 box toppers and also relic and auto relic cards in the parallels to the base set.  Like many of the mid-2000s sets the base set is more of an after thought to the relic and autograph parallels of the card.  The card is simple, but it's a great photo of Robin getting ready to bat.

2005 Donruss Studio Portraits Gray Border "White" Diamond Kings back

Year: 2005

Manufacturer: Donruss

Set: Studio

Card Number: SP-91

Card Type: Insert Color/Back Parallel

Insert Set: Portraits

Parallel set:  Gray Border - Diamond Kings back

Card Attributes: Serial Numbered

Serial Number: 48/60

In 2005 Donruss and Upper Deck were competing to see which company could produce the set with the most confusing and numerous parallels and inserts.  Upper Deck put up a good fight, but in the end I think Donruss won hands down with sets like this and Diamond Kings.  Studio Portraits was an insert to Donruss' popular Studio brand.  The old Studio sets are still some of my favorites from the early 90's.  

The insert features a very nice photo of Robin.  The parallels, I'm not sure if there is a base insert, feature various border colors and photo effects.  To make it more interesting there is also an advertising variation on the backs.  Donruss put their various brand logos on the backs.  This grey border card has the Diamond Kings logo.  It's possible this is also called the white border, I'm not sure it's a super confusing set.  To make matters worse many of the cards are very low numbered.  My example here being numbered to just 60.  To make matters worse I don't think the whole checklist is paralleled.

While the set is confusing and frustrating I'm still glad things like this exist out there for me to hunt and find.